I’m currently sitting in the Jerusalem Payis Arena watching a basketball game. But in a few days I’ll be back here for a Deep Purple concert.

I’ve seen Purple twice before in Israel. Once on September 28, 1991 in Tel Aviv’s HaYarkon Park, with Richie Blackmore on guitar, the late Jon Lord on keyboard and Joe Lynn Turner on vocals. And of course, Ian Paice on drums (Ian has always been in the band, from the time they first formed in 1968, and Roger Glover, who was in the band from 1969-73, and then again since 1984). That was the fulfilment of a lifetime dream (and the only time I saw Mr Lord) but objectively, it was not a great show.

Then, in 2016, I saw them again. Deep Purple were touring in support of their album, “Now What?” which at the time I thought might be their last. This time, Turner was gone, replaced by Ian Gillan, who was the vocalist during the band’s halcyon days, as was Richie Blackmore. In his place was Steve Morse, an American guitarist who has now been in the band almost twice as long as Richie was, but will always be considered the “new guitarist” and the veteran Englishman, Don Airey on keyboards. That was a great show — the band looked as though they were actually having fun.

On Monday, May 23rd, Deep Purple are back. This will be the band’s sixth time in Israel. But it will be their first time performing in Jerusalem. The lineup is almost unchanged since last time they were here. Except that Steve Morse is sitting out this tour to care for his wife who is ill. He has been (temporarily) replaced by Irish virtuoso Simon McBride. To be honest, McBride is the main reason I want to go and hear the band this time. Sure, they will play all their greatest hits — the same hits I listened to as a teenager decades ago. But Simon will bring a new voice to the group. I hear hints of Gary Moore in his own music and I love his tone.

Simon McBride has actually played with various individual Deep Purple members over the years, and shares a record label with the band, so he was the natural choice to substitute for this tour.

If you live in Jerusalem and haven’t yet bought your ticket, you can get a massive discount if you go to the Yerushalmi website.

See you there.

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